thy of special notice, such as that for which I have here trespassed upon your columns. A COUNTY SUPERINTENDent. LIGHT BREAKING IN UPON Q MR. DWIGHT This county, which has obtained an unenviable reputation in regard to its common schools, and the intelligence of its favored inhabitants, seems to have been sleeping almost the sleep of death. I do not mean to include every neighborhood, for there are honora. ble exceptions We have many good seminaries of learning, and every facility is opened for the education of the sons and daughters of the wealthy, of whom we have not a few. Some, even, of our common schools may justly rank high; but for some reason, our best teachers do not have as much encouragement as in other counties. Mr. Randall truly says, that "there is no good reason why Long Island, (Queens as well as the other counties) should not become the Mecca of education for the world;" but if it ever be. come so, there must be a great, a radical change for the better. I speak particularly of our coun. ty. We have discouragements here which are not necessarily of a permanent nature, but still, such as to discourage both good teachers and good parents. Much energy and decision are needed on the part of the friends of improvement; and with it we expect to see at no distant day a salutary and important change throughout the county. You have probably heard but little in the way of action from us, although we are not lacking in the will nor ma terials. You know some of our discourage. ments, and will appreciate our efforts to improve the state of things here. Feeling the importance of action, on the 14th ult. a few teachers of Hempstead, with the approbation of our efficient and worthy town superintendent, met at district number nineteen, near Rockaway, drafted a constitution, and assumed the name of the "Teachers' Association, of the town of Hemp. stead;" the design being the improvement of teachers and schools; none to be admitted but those of unexceptionable moral character; which last, we are sorry to say, has been too much neg. lected here. Meetings once a month. Our annual meetings are to be held at the M. E. Church, near Rockaway on the second Saturday of January. On Saturday last we assem. bled at that place, elected officers for the ensuing year, and had addresses from a number of gentlemen, among whom were Rev. Mr. Hatfield, our county superintendent, and the Rev. C. G. Lee of Connecticut. ADDRESS Delivered at the court-house in Fonda, before the association of Montgomery county for the improvement of common schools, June 21, 1844, by Jabe D. Hammond. [All will read with interest and profit, the following"extract" from the Address of one of the earliest and ablest champions of the people's schools. The allusions to Hulburd in the closing passage, will be responded to by thousands of intelligent friends of the great cause.-ED.] "The real elevation and true dignity of American citizenship cannot be effectually exhibited, unless the mind of the young citizen is properly cultivated by education. We may talk of his right, and extol his political power as much as we please. It will be declamation, and declamation only. We are looking" says the great and good Channing, as never before, through the disguises and envelopments of rank and classes to the common nature which lies below them, and are beginning to learn that every being who partakes of it, has noble powers to cultivate, solemn duties to perform, inalienable rights to assert, a vast destiny to accomplish. The grand idea of humanity, of the importance of man as man, is spreading silently but surely," The district school is the college of the son of the poor man-and if time would permit, I could exhibit to you instances of the most distinguished men, from president's down, who were, and are graduates of that institution. It is in the district school that education should be made to reach the heart, it is there that the pupil and the future citizen should be trained to the love of virtue, there he should be imbued with a sacred regard to truth, a contempt for meanness, an ardent love of country, a lofty ambition and a proper sense of his own dignity as a citizen of a free state. Hence it is, that the cause of common schools is a common cause. It is common ground, on which all political partisans, all sects in religion, may meet and join hands and hearts. Members of the Montgomery association, superintendents of schools and friends of popular education, why have you assembled here this evening? No speculations are to be made here by which pecuniary gains can be realized-no spoils of office are to be distributed. You are and holy purpose of making wiser and better our and you can be here for no other, than the high little ones-those who are to come after usthose who are to succeed us as sovereigns of this great country. Although the good you do may not be known until after yon are in your graves, you will not, you cannot be unmindful of the sacred cause which demands your most energetic efforts. The system of popular education is now probably as perfect or nearly as perfect, as consistent with the genius of our government it can be rendered by human laws. Every part of the machinery, from the state superintendent thrrough the county and town superintendent to the dis We are hoping to extend our influence into adjoining towns, and arouse such a feeling that others will co-operate with us; and after our towns are fully organized by such associations, our superintendent will probably proceed to get up a county organization and a "Teachers' Institute," which we think will prove a great bles-trict trustees, is well and harmoniously connectsing. E. SPAFORD, Secretary. Jerusalem, Queens co., January 13, 1845. ed, so that each part of it may act on the whole, and the whole on every part. Nothing more can be done by legal enactments. The people must complete the great work. The rich and central county of Montgomery, distin- the gathering together on this occasion, I recogguished as well for the profusion of its agricul-nize decisive evidence that here at the capitol of tural productions as for its commercial facilities, your county, great, and I trust successful efforts, greatly distinguished also for the gallantry and are being made. patriotism of its citizens in the olutionary Town and county superintendents, teachers struggle, when assailed by savage foes hovering and trustees of schools, I pray you to persevere on its borders, and the more dangerous wiles of in your labors! Discouraging and disheartening traitors within, is most eminently distinguished circumstances will occur-difficulties and opponot only among the counties which compose this sition you will be obliged to encounter-your state, but among the most favored portions of views and your conduct will be misrepresented the world, for internal improvements which have and may be traduced. but I entreat you to do been effected by art. your duty, honestly, faithfully and independentÏy. Your reward will surely come. Not a pecuniary reward, nor perhaps, honors or offices, but that which is infinitely more to be valuedthe consciousness of having done good, for the sole reason that it was good. enlightened views lately so ably presented to the public in the form of a report to the assembly, by the talented and benevolent Hulburd, shall be properly appreciated by a majority of the people and carried fully into effect, if parents and guardians can be made to feel and discharge the obligations they owe to their children and their country, I do most confidently anticipate that the next quarter of a century will furnish a new race of men and women, of morals pure and uncontaminated, of elevated ambition, hearts warmed with patriotism and minds refined by literature, and enlightened, strengthened and invigorated by science. We may say, and truly say, that a branch of the Atlantic ocean, uniting that ocean with the great inland seas of the west, has by the labor of man been extended through the centre of your highly favored county. The treasures of the Indies, the luxury of the tropical climates, the I may cherish delusive hopes, I may be ensplendid manufactures of Europe, and the valu-thusiastic, but if the munificent funds provided able products of the northern regions are floated by the state for educational purposes, shall be on the bosom of waters formed by art, to your properly applied in rewarding skilful, able and own doors. faithful teachers, if our system of supervision is One hundred years ago, had a savage wan-judiciously executed according to its spirit, if the dered from his wigwam on the banks of the Mohawk, to Oneida lake, on a hunting excursion, what would have been his astonishment, if upon his return the next day or next week, to Caughnawaga, he had discovered an arm of the sea extending through his cornfield, and vessels loaded with the conveniences and luxuries of civilized life, gliding on its surface. If this sight would have excited his admiration and wonder, how would his astonishment have been increased on turning his eye to the east, and beholding a splendid train of coaches, advancing seemingly by means of their own internal energies, and in the absence of all animal power with the speed of lightning? What a mighty Then, a man will not be distinguished by the change here would have come over the spirit of office he holds, but by his intelligence, his tathis dream of the amazed and wondering savage.lents, and his merits as a citizen, and thus the And yet these astonishing changes, these mag-post of honor will emphatically be a private sta nificent internal improvements have within less tion. Then, when an American on account of than half, and almost within a quarter of a cen. business or pleasure shall visit other countries, tury, been effected by the ingenuity and labor of and is seen walking the streets of London, of Paris, of Napies or of Rome, he will not be de Will not the inhabitants of this highly fa-signated by the crowd as a person who holds a vored portion of the globe, thus eminently dis judicial or military station, or as one who has tinguished by improvement of matter as it came been a governor or president, but it will be anfrom the hand of nature, by the hand of art-nounced as a more interesting and it may be, will not the citizens of the ancient and honorable equally honorable designation, THERE GOES AN county of Montgomery, engage in another and AMERICAN CITIZEN!" more exalted species of internal improvement? I mean the improvement of the mass of mind. man. PENNSYLVANIA. [Extracts from the Eleventh Annual Report of the State Superintendent of common schools of Pennsylvania.] Will you preserve and transmit to succeeding generations those rights which have been purchased by the treasures and blood of your fathers? How, since the unlimited extension of the right of suffrage, can this be done, except by educating and well educating the whole of To the Senate and House of Representatives of the rising generation? Whether German, Eng. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: lish, Irish, French, Swedes, Swiss or African, GENTLEMEN :-The undersigned Superintendlet them all be taught the language and princient of common schools, would respectfully subples of freemen. This species of internal im- mit his annual report for the school year 1844, provement, and this alone, can save our poster-ending June 3d, 1844. ity from anarchy on the one hand, and despotism Every township, ward or borough in the Comon the other; it is this alone, which can secure monwealth, not within the city and incorporated from decay and ruin the splendid structure of districts of the county of Philadelphia, forms a liberty, order and law, erected by the labor and separate school district, except in a few instances treasures, and cemented by the blood of our fa. where, by special act of the Legislature, a townthers. Need I doubt your determination to en-ship is divided into two districts. Each district has gage cordially and zealously in this benevolent a board of school directors, consistin of six mem. and patriotic enterprise? No, no. I will not bers, two of whom are elected annually. The didoubt; for in your present association, and in rectors are authorized, if they deem it expedient, to divide the districts into sub districts, with power to elect a primary committee of three in each, who act as a committee of the board, to attend to the local affairs of their respective sub-districts, subject to the orders of the board. In wards and boroughs the directors may appoint an inspector, who devotes his attention to the "visitation, inspection and care of the schools." Neither the directors, their treasurer, nor the primary committees, receive any pay or emolument whatever, for their services as such. It will thus be seen, that each district forms a dis-tinct and independent organization, represented by the board of directors. having no connection with the township or county officers; the only other officer being the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who is ex-officio Superintendent of common schools. portion to the number of male teachers, than it was last year. The whole number of scholars was two hundred and eight thousand four hundred and two, 158,787 males and 129,615 females. This shows a considerable increase of the number since last year, in proportion to the number of reporting districts. The average number of scholars in each school was forty-four, and the cost of teaching each scholar per month thirty-eight and a half cents. The state appropriation paid this year to the accepting districts, exclusive of that paid to Philadelphia city and county, amounted to two hundred and sixty-four thousand five hundred and twenty dollars. The school tax levied by the districts upon themselves amounted to three hundred and ninety-one thousand three hundred and forty dollars and sixty-eight cents; making the whole sum set apart for school purposes six hundred and fifty-five thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars and sixty-eight cents. Each board of directors is required, by one or more of their number, to visit every school within their district at least once in every month, and to cause the result of said visit to be entered on the minutes of the board. And on the first The amount expended for instruction in the Monday of June, annually, they are required to reporting districts was four hundred and thirtymake a report to the Superintendent, setting forth one thousand one hundred and ninety-two dolthe progress and condition of the schools, the lars and seventeen cents. For fuel and continexpenses incurred in maintaining them, togeth-gences thirty-nine thousand and thirty-three doler with such other information as may be of use in forming a just estimate of the value of common schools. lars and seventeen cents- And for school-houses seventy-five thousand nine hundred and eighteen dollars and ninety-four cents. Making the The district reports, which at present consti- whole expenditure in the reporting districts, five tute the principal, and almost the only means of hundred and forty-six thousand and thirty-one ascertaining the condition of the schools through- dollars and twenty-eight cents. Estimating the out the State, have been pretty generally receiv. expenditure in those that have been paid, but ed; and their contents, so far as relates to the have not reported, at one-tenth of the whole, it statistics, have been published at length in the will make the whole amount expended during the accompanying table. An inspection of this ta- year for school purposes about six hundred thouble will afford a much better view of the opera-sand dollars, exclusive of the amount expended tions of the system in the different sections of the Commonwealth, than could be obtained from any general statement, though it is believed the publication of these details, only once in three years, will sufficiently answer their purpose. The number of districts in the state is of course increasing every year, as the townships and boroughs increase. The whole number, at the close of the present year, was eleven hundred and seventy-two. Reports have been received from eight hundred and forty-six districts. This considerably smaller than the number received last year. The number of schools reported as being in operation within the year, is five thousand nine hundred and ninety-three. The average length of time that the schools were kept open was five months and fifteen days. The number of teachers was seven thousand five hundred and eigty-five, of which two thou sand four hundred and ten were females. In his last report, the undersigned took occasion to remark on the advantages which females possess over the other sex as instructors of small children, such as the schools in summer are generally composed of, and also, that in consequence of their expenses for board, &c., being less, they could afford to teach for a smaller salary than men of the same literary qualifications. For these, and other reasons, he ventured to recommend their more frequent employment as teachers. He is now gratified at being able to state that the proportion of female teachers is rapidly increasing, being considerably greater, in pro in the city and county of Philadelphia. This we think affords no small evidence of the interest taken by the people of this state in the education of the young; and that there is now nothing wanting to ensure the success of our school system, but a continuance of the appropriation they have been receiving for some years past, together with a more thorough visitation on the part of those entrusted with the management of the system, and the dissemination of correct views among the people on the importance and nature of education, and the best means of directing their efforts in its promotion. It appears from the statement here submitted that the schools of the Commonwealth are rapidly improving. Better modes of instruction are adopted and more capable teachers employed now than formerly. The number of scholars is annually increasing. The interest feit by the people in the cause of general education is becoming greater. Customs and prejudices that have existed for years, and furnished the greatest obstacles to the progress of the school system, are fast yielding to its benign influence; and districts before hostile are year after year becoming reconciled, and voluntarily adopting its provisions. A knowledge of their beneficial influences, and their happy conformity to the character of our citizens, and the principles of our government, secure for them the favor and support of the people. The system with but little amendment is well calculated to attain the object for which it was established. Its prosperity and existence rest with the legislature. If, as heretofore, it shall continue to be aided and sustained by the fostering care of the legislature, its progress to perfection and permanency cannot be doubted. But should an injudicious economy cause it to be neglected, and the support of the state withdrawn from it, but little hope can be entertained of the advancement of education in our Commonwealth. At the last session of the legis'ature the propriety of withholding the annual appropriation to the common schools was seriously considered. It was gratifying to the friends of education to find that a large majority of the representatives of the people were opposed to the adoption of this measure. Notwithstanding this, the annual appropriation was curtailed nearly one-half its usual amount. time for Pennsylvania to give up her prosperous tinuance and advancement? Prussia, although despotic in its government, The principal argument advanced in favor of this measure did not arise from a want of confidence in the school system, but was drawn from the financial embarrassment of the state, her revenues not being sufficient to meet the demands upon her public treasury. That the pecuniary difficulties under which our Commonwealth has labored for the last few years have been great, is admitted and deplored by all; and that the claims of her creditors are just, and should be paid, none will dispute. The honor of the state and of every citizen of it, requires that the most efficient and prompt means should be adopted to enable her to meet with punctuality her pecuniary liability. But in doing so the appropriation to common schools should if possible be contin-lic ued-although its amount does not much more than equal one-third of the sum raised in the districts by taxation for school purposes, yet the source from whence its is derived gives it much influence in supporting the school system. Its withdrawal would be understood as an abandonment by the state, of our system of education, and would have the effect of dampening the zeal of its friends, and unnerving the energies of the people in its support. The means of acquiring instruction would soon deteriorate, and the youth of our Commonwealth be left without the opportunities enjoyed by those of other States, to acquire a proper education, and fit themselves to discharge the important duties of citizens. For quarter repaired; and so great was the pub- return to all those who had made this sacrifice. schools." If under such circumstances the people of a monarchial government, impressed with the tained it, is there not great cause to believe that importance of public education, successfully sus the free citizens of a republic will not permit much smaller difficulties to compel them to desert their system of public schools? During the most gloomy period ever experienced in the financial concerns of the state, she has not failed to extend her aid to the advancement of her school system. When, less than three years ago, the holders of the permanent loans were loudest in their complaints, when the Much has already been done-but all has not legislative hall was surrounded with domestic yet been accomplished that is requisite to render creditors, importunate in their demands for pay-perfect and permanent our school system. It ment, when the business of the country was has rapidly advanced on the road to perfection; prostrated, the revenues of the state greatly di- let it not be permitted to recede from the point minished, and a pecuniary gloom hung over the it has attained, but by a wise and generous, and affairs of the people and the Commonwealth, unwavering support, let it be brought to maturishe still upheld, with an energetic hand, herty, and established on a basis that will secure its system of general education. A mistaken econ- usefulness and perpetuity. Thus will be obtainomy should not, under present circumstances, ed the highest honors for the Commonwealth, induce her legislature to withhold this support. and incalculable blessings for her citizens. Now that the claims of her domestic creditors I have the honor to be, have been satisfied, and her increasing revenues give every assurance of the speedy and complete redemption of her character and credit, now that the genial sun of prosperity is fast dissipating the cloud of embarrassment that enveloped her government and her citizens, surely it is not a Very respectfully, &c., CHAS. M'CLURE, Harrisburgh, December, 1844. 1 INDEX TO VOL. V. A. Agriculture-report on, 33; committee on, appointed, Allegany county-convention of Town Superintendents, Amusement-Hon. Samuel Young's letter on, 97; and Arab account of debtor and creditor, 47. 265. Arithmetic-as taught in Europe, 90; how taught, 239. B. Baldwin, Joshua Hon.-extract from his second annual Barnes; Orson-opinion of small districts, 78; letter Benton, Hon. N. S.-State Superintendent, 313; notice Bloss, W. C.-remarks on corporal punishment, 73. Brattleboro, Vermont-account of schools of, 310. Buffalo schools-extract from report of City Superin- C. Caldwell, S., City Superintendent of Buffalo-extract Cash, M. H-letter from, on the school system, charg. Celebrations-school, recommended by Albany County 97; State granted, 3, 130, 300, 313. Washington county, 201; at Bethlehem, Albany, 229 J. F. Mack, City Superintendent of Rochester, 86. Composition-how taught in Europe, 91. Comstock, R. T. Town Superintendent of Sherburne— Convention, county-in Ulster, 106; Ontario, 107; Pult- Cook, J. H.-teacher, letter from, 244. Cooper's, Mr.-views on union schools, 78. Cortland County Superintendent's circular to schools, Davies, Chas., Prof.-mathematical works spoken of at 139. |